Flock applying apparatus



Jan,.11,1938. y WQHQMPSON 2,105,215

FLocK APPLYING'APPARATUS Filed Feb.A 2l, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 if Z.

Jari. 11,1938. w. B. THoMPsoN 4 I FLOCK APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2l, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :lil

JM. HQ 1938 w.B. THOMPSON 2105,27@

` FLOCK APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1954 3 sheetssneet s as fr fg/ f/ I /l//A/I/ im@ 12 94 I 95 linstead of pressure.

' Patented Jan. 1l, 1.938

UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE 2,105,215 Fmox spuma-marinus Wayne B. Thompson, Winchester, Mass., `assignor to Spray Engineering Compan Somerville.

Mass.,.a corporation of Massachusetts' Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,386

Y l Claim. 'I'he present invention relates to the art of `coating and more particularly to apparatus for applying flock, which term is used herein to designate lcomminuted material, such as cotton, wool, silk, rayon, and the dust of vegetable fibres.

In one commercially successful ilock applying apparatus the ilock is stored in a container into which air under pressure is introduced. The

container is provided with an outlet through which the flock laden air is conducted to the point of application. The container is provided also with avent through which some of the air introduced into the container escapes to maintain a low pressure within the container, thus to insure the action oi' the air on the ilock under velocity Experience has demonstrated that the eective rate of air flow velocity should vary with different types of ilock. Heavy flock and flock having long libres require the use of a higher rate of air now velocity than does iight ock and flock having short libres. 'I'he ock applying apparatus referred to was provided with means for varying the pressure oi' the air introduced into the container and therefore the rate of air flow velocity, but this'resulted in the use of an excessive pressure,` a waste of air through the vent, and the discharge of too much flock.

' The principal object of the present invention is 'to provide an apparatus for applying flock by which the rate of air iiow velocity may be varied in aneasy, reliable and economical manner.

To the accomplishment'of this object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, Jthe features oi.' the 'present invention relate to certain devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and then set forth in the ap-f pended claims.

'Ihe various features oi' the present invention will be understood readily from van inspection of fthe accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure i'is a view in plan; Fig. 2 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the `nozzle head;

sectional elevation on the line 1-1, Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in plan of the vent valve; Fig. 9 is a detail view in' elevation of the vent valve, and e Fig. 10 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the vent valve on the line III-ill, Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus or tool for applying ock, is preferably provided with a metallic tank or chamber ii (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) comprising a. container for a large amount oi' ock. After the tank I I is partially filled with lfiockits open top is covered by a cover I2. The interior of the cover I2 is provided with a gasket i3 to engage the circular top edge of the tank II and form an air tight joint. 'I'he cover I2 is provided with a series of slotted lugs I4 (Figs. 1 and 6) each of which receives the shank of a bolt i5 which is pivoted between a pair of small plates i6 supported by the exterior surface of the tank il. The free end of the bolt I5 is screw-threaded and receives a wing-nut I1 adapted to engage the lugs Il. u

In order to introduce a motive agent,l such as compressed air, into the ock tank Il, the apparatus is provided with a main air line I8 (Figs. 1 and 4) which isconnected to some suitable source oi supply and is provided with a pressure reducing valve I9. The main air line is provided with a T (Eig. 4) one outlet of which is coupled to one end oi' Va b ranch air line 2i passing through an internally threaded boss 22 formed in the cover I2.

Within the tank Ii the branch air line 2i is provided with a T 23, the bottom outlet of which receives a nozzle having a discharge orifice 25 directed vertically downward. The other outlet of the T 23 receives one end of a horizontal pipe 26 thel other end of which ts into a cross 21 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). One outlet of the cross 21 receives one. end of a horizontal pipe 28 the other end of which is provided with an elbow 29 which .receives a nozzle 30 provided with a discharge orifice 3| (Fig. 6) directed downwardly and lat'- er'ally on an angle of 45 degrees. .The bottom' outlet of the cross 21 receives one end of a vertical pipe 33 (Figs. 4 and 6) connected to a horizontal pipe u through an elbow 3.5. The free end of the pipe 24 is provided with an elbow Il which' receives a-nozzle l1 having a discharge oriilce 38 directed downwardly and laterally onl an angle of 45 degrees. 'I'he remaining outlet of the vcross 21 is sealed by a plug ll.

With this construction the air discharged into the flock, through the orifices 26, 3| and 38, causes it to swirl in a ciockwisefdirection, (Fig. l. 5), in the tank II. As the ilock swirls some 'of it is separated from the mass of flock into particles which commingle with the air.

This flock, comxningled with the air, rises and is caused by the entraining action f the air to enter a lateral passage 45 (Fig. 4) formed between the cover I2 and the bottom of a casting 4I.

, The casting 4I is provided with a fiat oor 42 (Fig. 5) having a vertical, external peripheral wall 43 projecting upward into engagement with the bottom of the cover I2 and extending substantially concentric to the internal wall of the tank II from the inlet 44 of the passage 45 to a lateral outlet 45 therefrom. Adjacent the outlet 45 the wall 43 terminates in a reverse curve 45 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) forming a flock concentrating chamber 41 in which the flock laden air swirls in a clockwise direction. By swirling the flock in the tank I I in a. clockwise direction and by forming' the wall 43 concentric to the internal wall of the tank II, advantage is taken of the centrifugal action to cause the major part o f the particles of flock entrained in the air to engage and travel along the wall 43 and thus be directed into the flock concentrating chamber 41. The reversely curved wall 45 causes the flock laden 4air to swirl in the chamber 41 to maintain the flock delivered thereto in a stirred-up and floating condition.

Directly over the flock concentrating chamber 41 (Fig. 3) the cover I2 is provided with an internally threaded, perforated boss 48 which receives the threaded lower end of an elongated dome 49 provided with an internal frusto-conical passage 55 the larger base of which is at the bottom. Adjacent its upper end the exterior of the dome 49 is reduced to form a vertical cylindrical neck 5I and a horizontal shoulder 52. Projecting laterally from the neck 5I is a short screw 53 which enters an angular slot 54 formed in one end of a goose-neck 55 which fits over the neck 5I and seats on the shoulder 52. The screw 53 and slot 54 constitute a bayonet-joint permitting the ready coupling and uncoupling of the goose-neck 55 to and from the dome 49.

Th'e other end of the goose-neck 55 receives one end of a flexible conduit 55, (Figs. 1 and 6), the other end of which fits over one end of a goose-neck 51. The other end of the goose-neck 51 is coupled detachably to a nozzle head 58 in a manner similar to the coupling between the dome 49 and the goose-neck 55.

The ock laden air flows out of the chamber 41 into the conduit 55. The purpose of the dome 45 is to reduce gradually the size of the flock laden air streamas itl flows through the dome 49 into the flexible conduit 55. The purpose of the goose-neck 51 is to direct the flow of the ock laden air axially into a cylindrical passage 59 formed in the nozzle head 55. From the passage 59 the flock laden air A larger passage 55 terminating on the front face ofthe nozzle head 55.

The 4front face ofthe nozzle head 55 isprovided with avtransverse annular seat 5I and a cylindrical seat 52. Rotatably mounted on the 'cylindrical seat 52 is a nozzle 53 the rear end face 54 of which engages thetransverse seat 5I. The nozzle 53 is coupled to the nozzlehead 55 by an internally threaded ring 55 provided with an inturned flange, 55 arranged to engage a peripheral shoulder 51 formed on the nozzle 53..

The nozzle 53 is provided with a central discharge orice 55 formed inthe common base 59 ofan internal frusto-conlcalpassase 15 and an flows into a l external frusto-conical recess 1I. The frusto.

conical internal passage 15 and the frusto-conical external recess 1I are reversely arranged so that the common base 59 is the smaller base of each of the frusta-conical surfaces.

The front end of the passage 55 is lined with a hollow tube y12 one end of which is provided with aI ilange 13 engaged with the front end face of the cylindrical seat 52. The tube 12 is provided with a peripheral groove 14 which is engaged bythe rounded end of a screw 15 (Fig. 1), thus rendering the tube readily removable. The entrance to the cylindrical interior of the tube 12 is frusto-conical, the larger base being adjacent a mixingchamber l15 occupying the space in the passage 55 not lined with the tube 12. With this construction the flock laden -air is delivered from the passage 59 into the mixing chamber.15 where the flock and the air have an opportunity to expand and then form into an axial line of iiow through the frusta-conical entrance of the reduced passage in the tube 12.

When this flock laden air leaves the tube 12 it the dome to and out of the discharge nozzle 53,

the velocity of the escaping air would bear a direct relationship to the air pressure inside the tank. But the flock used in' coating the work varies widely in kind, quality, iineness, weight, and length of bre. In consequence a rate of air flow velocity used in handling one type of ock would be inadequate or detrimental when used in handling another type of flock. For instance, if an Aattempt were made to withdraw rayon flock from the tank and apply it to a surface rusing the same air current as that used in handling cotton ilock, the rayon flock, due to its weight, would drop out of suspension and clog the conduit extending from the tank to the discharge nozzle.

In order to avoid the necessity of relying solely on the variation of the pressure lof the air introduced into the tank to obtain different rates of air flow velocity in the conduit in which the flock is conducted to the point of application to meet the different operation conditions, the illustrated embodiment ofthe present invention is provided with a vent whereby a portion of the air within the tank may be allowed to escape directly to the atmosphere and thus reduce the rate of air iiow velocity in the conduit in which the flock is conducted to the point of use. A valve is provided so that the size of the vent opening may be varied to provide a delicate control of the rate of air flow velocity in the air which entrains the flock and carries lt to the point of application and thus adapt the apparatus to the easy, reliable and economical han- `dling of all types of flock.

The floor 42 (Fig. 5) is provided with a vertical, internal peripheral wall 11 having the same ininates at the outlet 45. The other end of the wall 11 terminates at a point spaced from the end of the wall 45. For the major portion of its length the wan A11- is" concentric to the wan as but is provided with a straight portion 18 which is directed at the juncturebetween the walls 43 and 46. The wall 11, the portion .of the iioor 42 enclosed thereby, and the cover I2, form a central filter chamber 19. The casting 4| is bolted to v able between the other two screws 82.

the bottom of the cover I2 by three bolts 88, two of which pass through the wall 43. and the third one of which passes through the wall 11.

-Directly over the filter chamber 19 the cover I 2 is provided with a cylindrical-opening 8| (Figs. 4 and 10) and three screws 82. (Figs. 8 and 9). the heads 83 of which are elevated above the cover I2. Mounted on the screws 82 and engaged with the exposed face of the cover I2 is a triangular gasket 84 (Figs. 9 and 10) having an opening 85 smaller than the opening 8|`but concentric therewith.' Mounted on the screws 82 and engaged with the exposed face of the gasket 84 is a triangular plate 86 having an opening 81 smaller than the opening 85 but concentric' therewith. The opening 81 may be closed or varied in size by a gate valve 88 one end of which is pivoted on one of the screws 82 and the other end of which is provided with an operating finger piece 89 movvWhen the inger piece 89 engages one screw 82 as in Fig.

. 8, the opening 81 isclosed by the gate -valve 88.

When the ilnger plece- 89 engages the4 other Ascrew 82 the opening 81 is uncovered by the gate valve 88. 'I'he finger piece 99 may be moved into a position intermediate the two adjacent screws 82 to vary the effective size of the opening 81. 'I'he finger piece 89 travels beneath a strap 98 loosely mounted on the two adjacent screws 82.

'Ihe three Screws 82 loosely support a cap 9|. In order to force the cap 9| against the heads 83, the gasket 84 against the cover I2, and the gate valve 88 against the plate 88, the screws 82 are each provided with a coiled spring 92 one of which is interposed between the -pivoted endI of the gate valve 88 and the cap 9| and the other-two of which are interposed between the strap 98 and the cap 9|. y

When the gate valve 88 is positioned to close the opening 81 all of the air introduced into the tank in escaping to the atmosphere must pass under its maximum rate of velocity through the discharge nozzle 63. When the gate valve 88 ls positioned to uncover the opening 81 a portion of the air introduced into the tank is vented to the atmosphere through the opening. In consequence the ock laden air flows under its minimum velocity to and out of the discharge nozzle 63. By varying the size of the opening 81 from its minimum` to its maximum, or any effective size therebetween, the rate of velocity at which the :Hock laden air is discharged from theltank to and out 'of the discharge nozzle 63 may be varied to meet theexisting operation condition.

When a portion of the air introduced into the A` y tank II isallowed to escape into the atmosphere the tank IL through the vent 81 by a screen 93 through the vent 81 it is desirable to lter the ock out of the air before it escapes. 'I'he ock is filtered out of theair escaping from (Figs. 4 and A10) supportedfrom a frame 94 interposed between the screen and the heads of screws 95 which secure the' frame and the screen to the bottom `of the cover I2. With this construction that portion of the flock laden air which enters the passage 48 'from the tank i I and which docsnot enter 'the flock concentrating chamber 41 `and does not pass back.y into the tank I I through the outlet of .the passageg48, enters the lter v:Ilockthrough the orices 25, 3|

. i chamber 19 wherein the flock is ill/tered out of the entraining air seeking to escape from the tank through the vent 81 either by falling out of the air stream or by being stopped by the screen 93. LIn any event the ock laden air vented out of the tank 'II through the vent 81 leaves the flock behind in the lter chamber.

As so vfar described the air introduced into the and 38 stirs up and swirls the flock in the tank II in a clockwise direction, (Fig. 5) separates oating particles therefrom'and then, under velocity, carries the floating particles in 'a dense cloud into the lateral passage v48. Some of these particles collected in the passage 48 are discharged from the nozzle 63 by the entraining action of the air during its'escape from the tank I| by way of the passage 48A are carriedl by the entraining air through the outlet 45 back into the tank In order to break up any lumps of flock which may be carried out of the tank II the passage 48 may be 4provided with a coarse screen 96 (Figs.

5, 6, and '1). The screen 86 extends vertically from the floor 42 to the bottom of the cover I2 and laterally from the wall 43 to the wall 11. The screen 96 is soldered and braced to one end of a plate 91 the other end of which is bent to form a clip 98 embracing the edge of the oor 42.

In order to stir up the flock collected on the floor of the passage 48 and send the stirred-up ock into the air stream owing therethrough, thereby to intensify the density of the flock laden air seeking an outlet from the tank I I, to prevent `the flock from accumulating and plugging the passage 48, and to drive lumpy ock against the screen '86, the main air line I8 is provided .above the cover I2 with a cross 99 (Figs. l, 4, and 6) to one outlet of which a branch air line |88 is connected. 'I'he branch |88 passes through an internally threaded, perforated boss |8| on the cover I2 into the tank II where the branch |88 is provided with an elbow |82 (Figs. 6 and 7) 'which receives a nozzle |88 having an orifice |84 4 discharging directly into the passage 48.A With this construction the door ofthe passage 48 and the jet of air discharged by the ermee |04 mio the inlet 44 of the passage 48 not only constitute an intensier for intensifying the ock laden air In order to prevent theilock collected on the f screen 93 or the floor of the lter chamber 19 from accumulating sumciently to choke the vent 81, to stir the flock up in the lter chamber 19, whirl the stirred-up flock into` the' flock concentrating chamber 41, and thereby intensify the density of the ock laden air escaping from the chamber 41 to the nozzle 63, another outlet of the cross 99 (Fig. 1) is connected to a branch air line |85 which passes into the tank Il through an ini ternally threaded, perforated boss |88 (Figs. 4 and 6). Within the tank II the branch I85is lprovided with an elbow |81 which receives a noz- 4 zle |08 located in the filter chamber 19 adjacent the junction between the outlet 45 and the vertical wall 11, and provided with an orice |09 (Fig. 5). With this construction the jet of air discharged into the filter chamber 19 through the orifice |09 stirs up the ock in the chamber, whirls the flock therein in a clockwise direction, (Fig. 5), separates floating particles from the whirling flock, and carries the floating flock by the entraining and centrifugal actions of the air discharged from the orifice |09 along the wall 11, from the straight portion' 18 of which the ock laden air flows towards the flock concentrating chamber 41. Some of the flock discharged from the illter chamber 19 passes through the outlet 45, but most of it is carried into the flock concentrating chamber 41 in which it is whirled and from which it is discharged to the nozzle 63. The filter chamber 19 and the jet of air discharged from the orifice |09 not only constitute an intensifier for intensifying the flock laden air passing out of the chamber 41 to the nozzle 63, but also act to prevent the ventoutlet 81 from becoming choked by an accumulation of flock in the filter chamber 19.

From an inspection of Fig. 5 it is apparent that at least some of the flock in its travel from the tank I to the nozzle 63 by way of the chamber 41 is subjected to three distinct-whirls,the whirl in' the tank being the greatest in extent, the whirl inthe chamber 41 being the least in extent, and the whirl in the filter chamber 19 being intermediate in extent, and that the apparatus is designed to take advantage of the centrifugal action developed during each whirl. The air which flows to the nozzle 63 by way of the chamber 41 is delivered -from the orifices 25, 3|, 38, |04 and |09. The air from the orifices 25, 3| and-38 becomes laden with flock in the tank The air from the orifice |04 becomes laden lwith flock in the passage 40. The air from the orifice |09 becomes laden with flock in the filter chamber 19.

the groove |20 is a horizontal passage 2| formed in the nozzle head 88.

The passage |2| communicates with a vertical passage |22 which communicates in turn with a horizontal passage |28. Air is delivered to the passage |23 through a short pipe |24 (Fig. 1) coupled to the front end of a metallic body |25 which has integral therewith a handle or grip |26. 'I'he back into the tank l l All the flock laden air from the three different sources which pass into the chamber 41 unite therein to produce a discharge of concentrated flock from the nozzle 63.

In order to vary the pressure of the air introduced into the tank, the passage 40 and the lter chamber 19, as may be .desired to meet the different operating conditions and to obtain the desired volume of flock with the particular type thereof being handled, the three branch air lines 2|, |00 and |05 are provided with control valves. The air flowing through the branch 2l is controlled by a valve ||0, (Figs. 1 and 4). The pressure in the air delivered to the'branch 2| through the valve is registered on a gage ||I connected to the top outlet in the T 20. The air flowing through the branch |00 is controlled by a -valve I|2 (Figs 1 and 6). The pressure in the branch |00 is registered on a gage ||3 fitted into a T I4. The air flowing through the branch is controlled and its pressure is registered by a valve ||5 and a gagel I6, respectively, (Fig. 1).

In order that, the flock discharged axially-of t the nozzle discharge orifice 68 may be attened, the walls of the frusto-conical recess 1| are provided wth a pair of diametrically opposite orifices I I1 (Fig. 2) lthrough which air is discharged supplementally upon the main discharge. Each orifice I1 is formed in the f-ront end of a passage ||8 which communicates through a passage ||9 with an annular groove formed in the rear endface of the nozzle 63. Communicating with air under. pressure is preferably introduced into the body portion through the grip |26 which is connected to one end of an air hose |21 through a. coupling |28. The other end of the air hose |21 isconnected to one outlet of a T |29 carried by the main air linelll.

The passage ofthe air through the body portion |25 is controlled by a normally closed main air valve (not shown) the stem |290 of which is arranged to be engaged by a trigger |30, at the will of the operative, to depress the stem |290 and thus open the main air valve. The upper end of the trigger |30 is provided with a yoke |3I which embraces the body portion |25 to which the yoke is secured in a pivotal manner.

The .volume of air discharged through the orifices ||1 is controlled by'a spindle |32 (Fig. 2) the point of which has a valve seat engagement with the wall of the vertical passage |22 just below its point of confluence with the passage |23. The spindle |32 is threaded into the nozzle head 58 and is provided with a milled head |33 to facilitate its adjustment. Colled about the spindle |32 and interposed between the nozzle head and the head |33 is a spring |34 acting to hold the spindle |32 in any desired position of adjustment.

The shape of the discharged material is controlled: by the spindle |32. When' the spindle |32 is engaged with its valve seat the target formed by the discharged material is circular. By manipulating the spindle |32 the shape of the target formed by the discharged material may be varied from a circle to an ellipse. In the showing of Fig. 2 the orifices are arranged vertically, thus providing for the flattening of the discharged material into a horizontally arranged fan. By loosening the ring65 the nozzle 63 may be angularly adjusted to obtain the fan in any desired plane.

To operate the apparatus the tank is filled tol within not less than six inches from its top with clean, dry flock, and the cover I2 secured in place. With the valve ||0 closed andthe valves ||2 and I5 opened, a main alr valve- |35 (Fig. l) is opened to admit air under the pressure determined by the pressure reducing valve I9 into the apparatus from the main air line I8. The valves ||2 and ||5 are adjusted to obtain differential pressures in the branches l|00 and |05, respectively, in accordance with the kind of flock with which the tank is filled. Assuming that the main airline pressure is over sixty pounds per square inch, for instance, the pressure of the airintroduced into the tank through the branch |00 should be varied from fifteen per square. inch and the pressure of air introduced into the tank through the branch |05 should be varied from five to forty-uve poundsper square inch depending upon the type of flock in the The gate valve 88 is adjusted to obtain the proper sized opening for the vent 81 and thus determine the rate of airflow velocity through the conduit connecting the dome 49 and the nozzle head 58. Forcotton flock the vent 81 should be substantially uncovered. For rayon ock the vent 81 should be substantially closed. The effective size tank.

to forty-five pounds of the vent'81 should be varied to accommodate 7n the apparatus to the particular type of flock aioaavc ployed. Then the valve which controls 'thevolume of the flock laden air discharged is opened gradually until a pressure substantially less than ve pounds per square inch is indicated on the gage i l l, whereupon the flock is discharged from the nozzle 63 in a turbid condition. As the tank .l re-adjusted to maintain the desired empties, the va1ves'88, |10, ||2 and H5 may be character of flock discharge. v

To apply the Hock, the work is coated :with `a suitable adhesive. The' handle |26 of the apparatus is engaged in the palm of the operatives hand with the index and adjacent fingers thereof engagedwith the trigger |30. By manipulating the gun body |25y the ock owing out of the nozzle 631s applied to the surface of the coated work, care being taken to drive the ock into 'the adhesive of the previously coated Work. In order to prevent `the formation of ock mounds on the lwork the operative, after each ock applying operation, directs the i'lock slantwise at the work with the result that the `excess ock is blown therefrom and subsequently recovered for re-use. Usually it is necessary to apply successive coats of flock to the adhesively coated work in order-.to obtain an even surface having a velvety or clothlike appearance. Whenthe flock applying operation has been completed the main valve |35 may be closed and the trigger |30 may be operated to Y utilize the supplemental air jets issuing from the orifices I I1 for dusting oi the excess flock.

In order to dissipate the statica] electricity generated bythe passage of flock through the con- Vare well suited toone mechanical form of the invention and to the use to which it is put, it is not limited to this use. nor to these details of construction, norto the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true .scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claim by the intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modiications.

What is claimed as new, is:

An apparatus for applying flock having, in combination, a nozzle, a. vcontainer for the flock, an

outlet from the container in communication withl V the nozzle, means for introducing air under pressure into the container and discharging the air against the iiock to impart movement thereto, mieans for varying the air pressure, and separate meansfor varying the velocity of the air `flow y through the outlet.

' WAYNE B. THOMPSON. 

